Examples Of Ethical Dilemmas In The Workplace
Rhiannon Haskin
Tiffany Fisher
Ethics
22 July 2010
Ethical Workplace Dilemma
When I think about it, I have encountered different ethical dilemmas in my place of work. One issue that has come up recently, was that of one of my employees came to me to discuss a hygiene issue she was having with one of the other workers in the office. At the time, I wasn’t sure about how to approach the situation, but thought back to some of my management training I had about 7 months ago, and what steps I should take to address the issue in the most professional as well as respectful manner. If I were to look at it from an ethical perspective, and that of a utilitarian view, I would have to say that the ethical action is the one that provides the …show more content…
I explained that it is completely against company policy to partake in any illegal drug activity whatsoever, and explained to her that I myself could smell the aroma of marijuana on her. I then proceeded to tell her that with such a strong scent coming off of her, I couldn’t take her word that her roommates smell it, and that she would have to be drug tested the same day. I also told her that she could let me know anything she wanted me to, and whatever she told me would remain strictly confidential. I was basically giving her the opportunity to resign her position, and that even if she was on drugs; her resigning her position wouldn’t be grounds to proceed with a drug test. She declined to give me any details of her personal life, so I told her that under suspicion of reasonable doubt, I was going to administer a mouth swab drug test. I called my superior into my office, as a third party witness, and gave my employee a mouth swab drug test, and just as I’d thought, it came back …show more content…
Of course, I doubt she opted for that choice, however she was escorted off the premises by local law enforcement, and I have not gotten word on her status to date. This situation for me was a difficult one, because not only am I fairly young, and in a management position with my company, but this girl was only 19, and already seeming to become careless with her employment and, shall we say “extra-curricular” activities. I didn’t even mention the alcohol, because I felt that after everything else, at the end of the day, it wasn’t important. I know she wasn’t let off easy, and probably got some charges to her record. The part that gets me is that I did follow policy, and I didn’t feel good about it, but I knew it was the ethical thing to
Tiffany Fisher
Ethics
22 July 2010
Ethical Workplace Dilemma
When I think about it, I have encountered different ethical dilemmas in my place of work. One issue that has come up recently, was that of one of my employees came to me to discuss a hygiene issue she was having with one of the other workers in the office. At the time, I wasn’t sure about how to approach the situation, but thought back to some of my management training I had about 7 months ago, and what steps I should take to address the issue in the most professional as well as respectful manner. If I were to look at it from an ethical perspective, and that of a utilitarian view, I would have to say that the ethical action is the one that provides the …show more content…
I explained that it is completely against company policy to partake in any illegal drug activity whatsoever, and explained to her that I myself could smell the aroma of marijuana on her. I then proceeded to tell her that with such a strong scent coming off of her, I couldn’t take her word that her roommates smell it, and that she would have to be drug tested the same day. I also told her that she could let me know anything she wanted me to, and whatever she told me would remain strictly confidential. I was basically giving her the opportunity to resign her position, and that even if she was on drugs; her resigning her position wouldn’t be grounds to proceed with a drug test. She declined to give me any details of her personal life, so I told her that under suspicion of reasonable doubt, I was going to administer a mouth swab drug test. I called my superior into my office, as a third party witness, and gave my employee a mouth swab drug test, and just as I’d thought, it came back …show more content…
Of course, I doubt she opted for that choice, however she was escorted off the premises by local law enforcement, and I have not gotten word on her status to date. This situation for me was a difficult one, because not only am I fairly young, and in a management position with my company, but this girl was only 19, and already seeming to become careless with her employment and, shall we say “extra-curricular” activities. I didn’t even mention the alcohol, because I felt that after everything else, at the end of the day, it wasn’t important. I know she wasn’t let off easy, and probably got some charges to her record. The part that gets me is that I did follow policy, and I didn’t feel good about it, but I knew it was the ethical thing to